While the fanfare from the two-year marker for the Olympic
Games is just dying down, organizers at VANOC are starting to gear up for a
whole new round of celebrations.

Wednesday marks the two-year countdown to the opening
ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games, which will be held in Vancouver and
Whistler from March 12 to 21, 2010 and include an estimated 600 athletes
competing in four sports, with over 50 medal events.

Whistler will host 62 of the 64 medal events for the Paralympic
Winter Games, as well as the closing ceremony, which makes the two-year
countdown a particularly exciting milestone for the community.

Festivities are being planned in both Vancouver and Whistler to
unite the communities and to showcase and recognize the achievements of
Canadians with disabilities within the realm of athletics and in other areas of
life.

Justin Hines, who will perform at the upcoming celebrations,
certainly fits the bill. The 25-year-old singer songwriter from Newmarket,
Ontario, has Larsen Syndrome.

“It’s a pretty rare genetic disorder, and basically my joints
dislocate regularly, which sounds pretty painful, but it’s actually not that
bad,” explains Hines. “But it does keep me in a chair.”

But Hines doesn’t let his disability keep him from enjoying his
long-standing passion for performing.

“To be honest, I don’t really remember doing anything else,”
says Hines, “…Apparently even as a toddler I was singing and whatnot, so I
think the passion and the drive was there pretty early.”

Hines says he is honoured to participate in the two-year
countdown events, and hopes he can motivate others with his music in the same
way Paralympians inspire with their athletic accomplishments.

“I think people that participate are really embodying the
spirit of accomplishing things even with adversity,” says Hines. “I look at my
own situation as almost a blessing, in a way, because I’m able to get people’s
attention and hopefully inspire them just by doing what I do, so it’s quite an
honour to be in that role.”

This certainly isn’t Hines’s first live gig — when he was just
14 years old, he won a radio contest to sing the national anthem at a Toronto
Raptors game. His first performance was in front of 17,000 people.

He also recently toured across Canada, Dubai and the United
Kingdom. He released his debut album,
Sides,
back in August, which, aside from one cover song, contains all original
work and soothing songs like, Wish You Well, and Never After.

With a classic, somewhat timeless style, Hines’s soulful voice,
accompanied by acoustics, is often compared with musicians from the folk roots
genre, like James Taylor and Cat Stevens. It’s no surprise that they are among
the many influences Hines cites, but he also draws inspiration from many
contemporary artists.

“In terms of modern day guys, I really like Ron Sexsmith and
Amos Lee and people that are still keeping the tradition of songwriting alive,”
Hines explains.

Accompanied by a guitarist and bass player, Hines is set to
take the Whistler stage for two half-hour sets, designed to entertain and
inspire.

Whistler’s countdown event will take place at the new Whistler
Public Library from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 12, complete with music,
refreshments and a ceremonial cake cutting at 5:30 p.m. Local athletes and the
Vancouver 2010 mascots — Sumi, Quatchi and Miga — will also join in the
celebrations.

VANOC will also release the 2010 Paralympic competition
schedule and a new Vancouver 2010 video showcasing the Paralympic Winter Games
at Wednesday’s events.